Installation of Most Rev James Moriarty as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin

30. Aug, 2002

Installation of Most Rev James Moriarty as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin

Most Rev James Moriarty, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin will be installed as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin at a ceremony in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow at 2.00pm, Saturday 31 August 2002.

Bishop Moriarty will be the chief celebrant at tomorrow’s Mass which will be attended by Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, Most Rev Sean Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland, Desmond Cardinal Connell, Archbishop Of Dublin, Cardinal Cahal Daly, Archbishop Emeritus of Armagh and other members of the Irish Bishops’ Conference.

Bishop Moriarty will replace The Most Reverend Laurence Ryan DD who was ordained Coadjutor Bishop in 1984 and installed as Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin in 1987. Bishop Ryan (71) submitted his resignation to Pope John Paul II in July 2001.

The Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin has a Catholic population of 183,000 in 56 parishes, and includes County Carlow and parts of Counties Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Kilkenny, Wicklow and Wexford.

Statement of Bishop Laurence Ryan at the announcement of Bishop Jim Moriarty’s appointment as the next Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin

I am delighted to welcome Bishop James Moriarty as the new Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. I feel sure that I am expressing the mind of the people, priests and religious of the diocese in congratulating him on his appointment and in assuring him of our support and our prayers.

Some months ago soundings were taken throughout the diocese with a view to ascertaining the qualities that people would wish to see in their next Bishop. Prominent among those qualities were that he be a man of faith, a man with vision who will take initiatives, a good listener and communicator and able to delegate.

Bishop Moriarty has these qualities in exceptional measure. He brings with him a wealth of pastoral experience as priest and bishop in the archdiocese of Dublin. Kildare and Leighlin can only benefit greatly from his talents and experience.

One need that got special emphasis in those soundings was ‘youth ministry’. Bishop Moriarty has beena gifted leader in this pastoral area in Dublin and indeed throughout the country. It is now our privilege to benefit from his special gifts in this area.

We do not look on Bishop Moriarty as a stranger. We see him as a friendly neighbour who is now to become one of ourselves. I hope that he will soon feel at home among us. I am confident that the people of the diocese will warm to him quickly.

May God enable him to exercise a ministry which will be fruitful without being too difficult.

ENDS

Statement of Cardinal Connell at the announcement of Bishop Jim Moriarty’s appointment as the next Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin

‘On behalf of the bishops, priests, religious and people of the Archdiocese of Dublin, I want to convey the sincerest good wishes of all of us to Bishop Jim Moriarty on appointment by the Holy Father as the new Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin.

In expressing joy at his appointment, I must add how greatly missed he will be in Dublin. As university chaplain, as curate and parish priest and, since 1991, as auxiliary bishop, he has given outstanding service in this diocese over almost 40 years. He has always been particularly highly regarded by the priests of the diocese, whom he represented on the Council of Priests at both local and national level. But, wherever he has been, he is remembered by priests and people alike for his gracious humanity and his great energy and devotion as a pastor.

I want to express my own deep gratitude to Bishop Moriarty for all the support and encouragement he has given me as Archbishop. May his new ministry be richly blessed by the Lord who calls him now to Kildare and Leighlin’.